Imperial Valley farmers are trying to reduce the financial risks and simplify the process of delivering electricity to their fields for on-farm water conservation measures.
On-farm water conservation measures typically require the installation of water pumps or drip irrigation systems to deliver water to crops more efficiently. These water conservation measures will prove critical as the quantities of water transferred to coastal areas increase, as mandated by the Quantification Settlement Agreement.
A big issue that farmers face in implementing these measures is financial. To that end, the district is working on a calculator that will allow a farmer to input pertinent data, such as flow rate, pipeline length and diameter and the distance the water needs to be moved, to get an estimate of what it would cost to get power to his field.
“It gives the farmer a rough idea if it’s feasible to do — or not — for the project he has in mind,” said WCAB Chairman Al Kalin.
The calculator is simply meant to be a tool at the farmers’ disposal. A financial hurdle needs to be overcome in order to make on-farm conservation methods appealing to a wide cross-section of farmers.
“If we can talk to the electrical department about how to keep costs down, it would allow farmers to install water conservation methods,” Kalin said.
As it stands, the district’s power infrastructure in agricultural areas is minimal. Between the costs associated with engineering studies and connecting to the IID’s lines, a farmer can spend $50,000 before addressing the conservation method in question. Kalin said he hopes the district is sensitive to farmers’ concerns.
“I would like to get more cooperation from the electrical department,” he said.
Staff Writer Antoine Abou-Diwan can be reached at 760-337-3454 or aabou-diwan@ivpressonline.com
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